Council eyes Erie Blvd. project changes

Share on Facebook

Save

The City Council Tuesday got its latest look at the Erie Boulevard redesign project, including what engineers said were significant changes.

But even with the changes, business owners still panned the proposal, citing a controversial roundabout and what they termed uncrossable medians.

“It still obscures businesses, whether northbound or southbound,” said Sarah Michener, owner of Annabel’s, on Ferry Street, and a member of the group of business owners opposing the project. “Anyone who isn’t very, very familiar with Erie Boulevard will have a hard time accessing the businesses.”

More than 30 business operators met in July and agreed to fight for the complete removal of the roundabout from the $14 million Erie Boulevard reconstruction plan.

Some changes were on display Tuesday, including a turnaround near I-890 to allow access to businesses on the east side. Lanes were also added for better delivery traffic, and the possibility was left open for an access road. The turnaround had been announced earlier.

Scott Lewendon and Joe Cimino, of Clough Harbour Associates engineering firm, presented the updated plan to the council, touting the changes.

A public information meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 18 at the GE Theatre. The time has yet to be set. Engineers will be there to present the plan and take further suggestions and questions. The plan is still a work in progress, officials said.

Officials will also be there to better explain what they say are the benefits of roundabouts. Those benefits can include a turnaround point and slowing of traffic. The roundabout, coupled with medians, also prevents potentially dangerous left-hand turns.

But the roundabout would still force two businesses to relocate. To make space, the city would use eminent domain to take and demolish the Another World adult bookstore and The Gun Store next door. Bookstore owner Rocco Palmer organized his fellow business owners to fight the roundabout when he learned of the plan.

Down the street, engineers added the turnaround near I-890, despite some concerns about turning into traffic coming onto Erie Boulevard. But engineers decided that risk was less than making traffic enter the loop system to return to Erie on the other side.

Other topics covered included a left turn from Erie onto State. Officials said they will study that. They said snowplowing would be done with little added difficulty.

Mayor Brian U. Stratton reiterated that he believes the roundabout is the best option.

He acknowledged the business owners’ concerns, but said no project can please everyone.

“It’s not merely a project geared toward servicing existing businesses,” Stratton said. He said they will do everything they can to address the concerns “knowing full well we’re will not going to make 100 percent of the people absolutely happy, and that is the case with any large public works project.”